Charistoph wrote: If they hadn't already announced the Vindicator as part of the Beginner Box, the Merlin would have fit in to replacing the Wolverine perfectly, being the traditional "this is how you build a 'Mech" example for a long time.
Ghaz wrote: Q : Have the Imp, Falcon and Hornet been updated yet? A : They won’t be making the cut this time.
The KS built around Mercenaries isn't including the Imp? Poor form.
chaos0xomega wrote: Mind you, this assumes that "political differences" were the actual reason for his dismissal, as opposed to "we don't want to continue to employ someone who is using our product line as a platform to springboard the launch of his own competing product".
Then just say that?
"You are actively competing against our products whilst still working for us" seems like a pretty legit reason to get rid of someone. No need to obfuscate that.
Ghaz wrote: Q : Have the Imp, Falcon and Hornet been updated yet?
A : They won’t be making the cut this time.
The KS built around Mercenaries isn't including the Imp? Poor form.
There's only so many models they can have in the Kickstarter and I can see why a 'Mech which is on the edge of excintion may not be included. At least the Shogun is in the Kickstarter as it has been in production by Clan Sea Fox for the Dragoons since shortly after the Jihad.
H.B.M.C. wrote: The last KS had heaps of 'Mechs. This one doesn't appear to have as many, and has a bunch of basic vehicles in their place.
But you'd think that heavily Merc themed 'Mechs would be the first things to make the cut.
Yes, they've said that there will be less than the previous Kickstarter. And when it comes to cutting 'Mechs, you'll cut one that's almost extinct and only used be a single mercenary unit in favor of common 'Mechs that are used by mercenaries as well. The Dragoon's will still have eight of the eleven 'Mechs from their sourcebook available in plastic once the Kickstarter is over and that's no small feat.
Quick tip for any wannabe PR firm workers, when the s hits the fan, have one story and keep it straight. Pardoe managed to do just that in his explanation of the firing, while Catalyst's weak, pithy message did not. And far worse was the random shotgun of excuses from their stans on social media, where "ackshually he got fired because he is difficult, but also ackshually he got fired because his new book is too offensive, but ackshually he got fired because he supports the Confederacy, but ackshually he got fired because he wrote his own book involving robots, but ackshually he got fired because of his bigoted interaction with fans, but ackshually..."
Oh you're just desperately reaching around for any old reason you can think of because the real reason is unacceptable and you know it? Yeah, that's what liars do, liars do that. At least pick one unconvincing lie and stick with it.
With all the Kickstarter drama going on right now anyway, this makes their Mercenaries campaign seem more fraught. Tens of people on BT Facebook groups telling me that Razorfist's video with 70,000+ viewers (after one day) is all about a minor incident that no one with money actually cares about doesn't sound very connected with reality. I have money and I care that a popular author got fired because they have a clearly unstable stalker threatening their life and harassing the company, even if he is a right-wing crank.
All that being said, I'm not sure how much I'd be in for on the KS unless it had worthwhile savings for me over later retail. The thing about vehicles is they're just going to look like generic sci-fi vehicles, and I can print out any number of those myself.
What has made this new wave of products so appealing are those two art designers they have (sorry I never remember either name), and the fresh, really cool looks they bring to the mechs. As the previews have shown, those tanks aren't going to benefit in the same way, and the 4+ leg mechs are just goofy. So if picking up the six or so lance packs I'll probably really want doesn't come with a ton of extras, I'll just wait, especially with this situation unresolved.
frankelee wrote: The thing about vehicles is they're just going to look like generic sci-fi vehicles, and I can print out any number of those myself.
They're updating (and not replacing) 35-year-old designs while staying true to the originals. I'm not really sure what you would rather have them do and still keep them identifiable as the original vehicles.
frankelee wrote: The thing about vehicles is they're just going to look like generic sci-fi vehicles, and I can print out any number of those myself.
They're updating (and not replacing) 35-year-old designs while staying true to the originals. I'm not really sure what you would rather have them do and still keep them identifiable as the original vehicles.
Don't misunderstand me, I'm not blaming them for it. That is the reality of what they're trying to sell, super generic little vehicles I can print for 30 cents apiece.
TheWaspinator wrote: About Pardoe, I can't take seriously anyone who rants about people being woke.
That's a you problem. Firing someone at the behest of someone that threatened you enough to be granted a protective order is pretty jacked up, but you can't see past loyalty to your side, got it.
TheWaspinator wrote: About Pardoe, I can't take seriously anyone who rants about people being woke.
That's a you problem. Firing someone at the behest of someone that threatened you enough to be granted a protective order is pretty jacked up, but you can't see past loyalty to your side, got it.
People who rant about wokeness are literally stripping the rights of people like me IRL right now. I'm not going to pretend they're ok.
TheWaspinator wrote: About Pardoe, I can't take seriously anyone who rants about people being woke.
That's a you problem. Firing someone at the behest of someone that threatened you enough to be granted a protective order is pretty jacked up, but you can't see past loyalty to your side, got it.
Maybe they just checked the numbers and decided to err based on the market segment.
Be Polite, it doesn't take much for real-world politics to turn in to flame wars very quickly.
Stay on Topic, while there may be a place to talk about the situation between an author, problems they may have had, and a company they wrote for, this thread is about Battletech and how awesome it is.
Miguelsan wrote: Wasn't Pardoe responsible for the return of the Clan Smoked Jaguars? I'm very out of touch with Dark Age timelines.
M.
No CGL was responsible for the return of CSJ, CGL isn't black library they at least try and keep their novel authors and sourcebook writers on the same page.
So in other news...i just ordered a tempest, i am thinking about making a themed stompy of stompiest mechs lance AKA skobel mech works like designs. so far the grand crusader and cerberus are in the running to add to the tempest.
Death_from_above wrote:Anthony just posted Mobile Long Tom Artillery concept art on his Patreon.
Model will come on 2 bases : artillery vehicle and ammo/crew trailers.
Also : "So this one falls really nicely into the map objective token category for spicing up your games"
He's allowing the image to be shared, but requests we wait till Aug 4th (GenCon start).
Some more snippets from various comments on his Patreon :
Q : Is the Mobile HQ going to be in a ForcePack like this one or a stand alone product like the Shilone?
A : It'll be in a pack that is more objective focused.
So possibly : Mobile HQ, Mobile Long Tom,..
Q : Have the Imp, Falcon and Hornet been updated yet?
A : They won’t be making the cut this time.
Q : What a journey! My heart wants Reunification War-era mechs, like the Toro. My brain says it'd already be a slight stretch to ask for the Merlin. I think it deserves a little more attention as the first new mech in a while, and this focus on the 3025 era is probably the only time it'd make sense to do it. Also, it really, really needs some work. We could use a Karnov, too. It's the other VTOL that I think gets a lot of use.
A : Might have one of those for you
Since he confirmed the Warrior would be the only VTOL, that leaves the Toro or Merlin. Personally, I'm expecting the latter..
Q : "So, what is everyone looking forward to seeing from me the rest of the year?" Hatamoto-Chi, Manticore, Vedette, Hetzer.
A : I can get you two of those.
Since the Vedette has since been shown, my 5 C-bills for the remaining design are on the Manticore.
Some pics from GenCon are starting to show up on the BattleTech Forums. The orange vehicle to the left of the 'Sneak Peek' sign appears to be the Mobile HQ, while the orange 'Mech in the second pic could be a Chameleon (looks too big to be the Spector).
I should have waited a few weeks before asking about smaller unit focused rules/games apparently! Is Destiny scale for the RPG or a separate tabletop game?
Well, I guess Im gonna be out lots of money. I need those Elementals all of them.
T-Wolf and Marauder would be cool too.
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warboss wrote: I should have waited a few weeks before asking about smaller unit focused rules/games apparently! Is Destiny scale for the RPG or a separate tabletop game?
BattleTech presently has two RPGs. A Time of War is the 4th edition of the older, 'crunchy' MechWarrior RPG whereas MechWarrior: Destiny is the rules lite RPG based on the Cue System.
Does Catalyst do a formal Gencon presentation like Paizo, Corvus Belli, and others do to show off upcoming products?
Thanks to you both for the info on the scale belonging to the Destiny RPG. I can't see why they wouldn't come out with a pure tabletop minis game as well if they're going through the trouble of making the minis. YMMV. Fingers crossed!
I like the pilot fig. Is that supposed to be one of the genefreak elemental pilots? If so, they really kept it toned and muscular but still proportioned realistically so it can be used as a normal human as well potentially.
Oh, 28mm BA, very nice. Now let's hope it's not that good so I can skip it.
I also want that Timber Wolf now, damn.
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warboss wrote: I like the pilot fig. Is that supposed to be one of the genefreak elemental pilots? If so, they really kept it toned and muscular but still proportioned realistically so it can be used as a normal human as well potentially.
Considering they are both holding what looks like neurohelmets, they are very likely Mech pilots.
warboss wrote: I should have waited a few weeks before asking about smaller unit focused rules/games apparently! Is Destiny scale for the RPG or a separate tabletop game?
The 28mm models are just a proof of concept, that are too cool to not show off.
That said, it really skews expectations. Enjoy the photos, and hope that we can expand into that one day. That said, if it ever comes to fruition, I highly doubt we’ll call it Destiny Scale.
As you can see, the feet of the Goliath hang over the edge of the base as well. I guess Catalyst decided an ounce of prevention was their best course of action.
BrianDavion wrote: not sure I'd call it a RPG alpha strike. it's a "narrative" RPG which is useally code for "minimal mechanics sit down with your buddies and tell a story.."
And I'm not sure I'd call Alpha Strike "Battletech". It's a super-stripped down version of the core rules that removes all levels of detail and flavour just so you can smash minis together and make pew pew noises.
BrianDavion wrote: not sure I'd call it a RPG alpha strike. it's a "narrative" RPG which is useally code for "minimal mechanics sit down with your buddies and tell a story.."
And I'm not sure I'd call Alpha Strike "Battletech". It's a super-stripped down version of the core rules that removes all levels of detail and flavour just so you can smash minis together and make pew pew noises.
Last I saw was a post on the official forums that said the product listing from a few weeks back was basically everything they had planned for the next year, so there wasn't anything to announce.
We usually don't play past 3067 but i had several late era mechs so i planed a game with our comstar guy
I ran-
.tenshi 10-O
.hatamoto chi 28T "SHIN"
.hatamoto suna
.hitosune kozo prime
He ran a plasma rifle heavy loadout with
.king crab
.crusader
.warhammer
.shadowhawk
The table was swampland (pretty cool actually all the grassy areas were level 1 water, and they were actually grass flocking not painted on).
Since i had 2 mechs with TSM (and melee weapons) he brought along heat seeking LRM ammo. the plasma cannons forced me to play around with my heat a bit to maintain TSM but since most of my mechs had a gauss rifle it never really became a problem.
The game was pretty involved so i forgot to take many pictures. both the tenshi and crab were engine crited out of the game. the kozo took the leg off of the crusader. but the funniest moment of the fight was when the shadow hawk tried and failed to kick the suna who then punched him straight in the face.
with 2 mechs down and the shadow hawk fallen on the ground after this picture was taken the phone company decided not to charge me those late fees and left.
Last I saw was a post on the official forums that said the product listing from a few weeks back was basically everything they had planned for the next year, so there wasn't anything to announce.
The only big (literally) GenCon news from CGL was the life sized UrbanMech
Seriously, it was nice to see the RPG scaled models even if there is a possibility that they won't happen (at least give us the Elemental as a Kickstarter stretch goal) and getting a little bit clearer idea of what will be in the Force Packs in the Mercenaries Kickstarter.
There was a modest reveal of a few more miniatures- the Doom Courser minis were seen for the first time, and Dale Eadeh, the sculptor of the Hierofalcon, had an STL printed version of the Jade Phoenix that will eventually be released in miniature form (not STL of course, let's not get crazy.)
GRUD wrote:I was told the 2 Doom Coursers were printed, and there are CurrentlyNO plans to bring them to market. I was told this by crackerb0x, for anyone wondering about my "Source".
Not sure if you're referring to the Doom Courser or Jade Phoenix, but so far no hard info / few rumours on upcoming releases from IWM.
A lot of the classic redesigns will / are supposed to show up in the upcoming Mercenaries KS.
Catalyst has partnered with Monster Fight Club for a Premium line of minis. So far the Wolfhound IIC (Grinner), Hammerhead (new RecGuide design) and Timber Wolf TC (Tukayyid configuration) have been produced. Next in line should be the Eris (new RecGuide design).
IWM should still have a set of fall / winter Battletech releases (4 Mechs). The Ion Sparrow (new RecGuide design) has been mentioned on the BT forums IIRC, but no hard confirmation. Since the Ion Sparrow, Hierofalcon and Jade Phoenix models were designed by the same guy (Dale Eadeh), I think the Phoenix has a fair chance of showing up as an IWM mini..
I hope they get to the Iron Cheetah. I've been waiting a real proper mini of that thing for 20-odd years. Y'know, back from the days when it wasn't a real 'Mech!
H.B.M.C. wrote: I hope they get to the Iron Cheetah. I've been waiting a real proper mini of that thing for 20-odd years. Y'know, back from the days when it wasn't a real 'Mech!
You aren't the only one, players in our group were quite excited when it was announced there would finally be a mini.
The aforementioned Jade Phoenix is most likely an IWM release as it seems like most of Dale Eadeh's current sculpts are for IWM. As for when we can see it or what's next...
As for the plastics, CGL for the most part seems to have started at 3025 and is working their way along (with a few exceptions such as the Regent). I wouldn't expect a major push on IlKhan-era plastic 'Mechs for years.
Ghaz wrote: The aforementioned Jade Phoenix is most likely an IWM release as it seems like most of Dale Eadeh's current sculpts are for IWM. As for when we can see it or what's next...
As for the plastics, CGL for the most part seems to have started at 3025 and is working their way along (with a few exceptions such as the Regent). I wouldn't expect a major push on IlKhan-era plastic 'Mechs for years.
Ray told me in discord that the focus is the clan invasion era because "thats the most popular era" that said they've been taking some of the "greatest hits" from the recguides and making them in plastic so the jade pheonix wou;nd't suprise me.
Ghaz wrote: The aforementioned Jade Phoenix is most likely an IWM release as it seems like most of Dale Eadeh's current sculpts are for IWM. As for when we can see it or what's next...
As for the plastics, CGL for the most part seems to have started at 3025 and is working their way along (with a few exceptions such as the Regent). I wouldn't expect a major push on IlKhan-era plastic 'Mechs for years.
The Jade Phoenix and other ilClan-era Mechs will likely be seen in metal from IWM before we see them in plastic, aside from the premium releases like the Hammerhead, Timber-Wolf TC, and so on.
Honestly, I have no problem with that concept, except for the fact the speed of the release (though, my wallet is perfectly happy with that speed).
Charistoph wrote: The Jade Phoenix and other ilClan-era Mechs will likely be seen in metal from IWM before we see them in plastic, aside from the premium releases like the Hammerhead, Timber-Wolf TC, and so on.
Yep. Exactly what I was trying to say . Some of his curremt sculpts (Sojourner, Dominator and the Hierofalcon) are from IWM and some (Grinner and the upcoming Eris) are premiums.
If I had to choose one it would probably be the Falconer as it is an iconic 'Mech and according to the MUL certain models are available to mercenaries. It would be very interesting to see how they change the legs (so that they actually work) and still keep the flavor of the original Falconer...
The Hornet, Falcon and Imp have been confirmed as not being in the Kickstarter. Doing a quick rundown of the 'Mechs that would leave from the original TRO 3050 the Hermes, Wolf Trap. Kintaro, Hatamoto-chi and Mauler and from the original TRO 2750 that leaves the Thorn, Hussar, Wyvern, Champion and Bombardier.
Death_from_above wrote:Some snippets from WolfNet Ep. 50 :
timestamp 25.10 - "Inner Sphere Standard Battle Armor will be in the KS" (no indication in which format/pack)
timestamp 41.40 - "All ForcePacks adhere to the force building rules, with one exception"..
timestamp 42.00 - .."the Objectives pack with a Mobile HQ, a Mobile Long Tom and a MASH" (IMHO, one of each)
timestamp 43.30 - "25% of the KS lineup are vees"
Probably overanalyzing, but since we've had 17 vehicle designs shown/mentioned/hinted at so far, that would
bring the total number of units in the KS to 68..
timestamp 52.10 - they sold approx. 17 000 ForcePacks in 6 months thru B&N (and made their website crash)
timestamp 1.07.00 - "pretty sure all of the units in the Mercenaries KS will get a RecGuide-style update"
timestamp 1.07.25 - "..small handful of miniatures in the RecGuides without minis, these will be in the KS"
Clarification follows that they mean the Classic redesigns, not the new designs, but I'm asking myself how
to interpret this with regards to the Grand Crusader and friends..
So start digging through those RecGuides tofind which Classic redesigns have yet been done in plastic...
Ghaz wrote: The Hornet, Falcon and Imp have been confirmed as not being in the Kickstarter. Doing a quick rundown of the 'Mechs that would leave from the original TRO 3050 the Hermes, Wolf Trap. Kintaro, Hatamoto-chi and Mauler and from the original TRO 2750 that leaves the Thorn, Hussar, Wyvern, Champion and Bombardier.
There are some missing from your list, I think. Hermes II, Whitworth, and "Classic" two-fisted Banshee. The Shootist SHOULD be in that list, too, but it's in TRO 3058 while having an intro in 2621 (though, that applies to a lot of different mechs, and I'm not talking about the Dark Age resurrections like the Primitives).
The Hermes II already has a sculpt and is listed as a part of the Inner Sphere Pursuit Lance. The Whitworth is also listed above under the Unallocated 'Mechs and has been confirmed on Anthony's Patreon.
Oh man, the Grand Crusader is even more ambiguous- technically the Star Crusader is a Clan Omni, and they weren't going to do those this time. 'Course, they weren't going to do plastic aerotech last time... Catalyst is getting cheeky. I like it.
chaos0xomega wrote: This is going to be another $1500 kickstarter for me lol
I believed I had whaled out at just about $500, I recognised I should have pledged two Star Colonels rather than a Star Colonel and a Bloodnamed, especially with the $75 bonus for not generating a character. So there was a belated recognition of room for 'improvement'; but $1.5k, that is some dedication there.
I am interested to know what you got.
2 Star Colonels + Ristar + additional addons to get a minimum of 2 copies of almost every box (there were 3 or 4 that I skipped), as well as a full company of Urbanmechs, plus all the rulebooks (never played battletech before, so I needed those) + 5 or 6 of the neoprene battlemats + a few tactical map cases + premium record sheets and some miscellany + shipping lol
chaos0xomega wrote: 2 Star Colonels + Ristar + additional addons to get a minimum of 2 copies of almost every box (there were 3 or 4 that I skipped), as well as a full company of Urbanmechs, plus all the rulebooks (never played battletech before, so I needed those) + 5 or 6 of the neoprene battlemats + a few tactical map cases + premium record sheets and some miscellany + shipping lol
you got all that without having even PLAYED Battletech before?
Orlanth wrote: I would expect Savannah Masters to be two or three to a stand.
Even as tiny as they are (a medium laser, a fusion engine to help it reach speeds that would activate a flux capacitor while Cruising, and just enough armor to keep the random airborne insect from killing the pilot, all in 5 tons), only 2 friendly Savannah Masters are allowed in a hex at a time. As it is, they can split up and go in different directions, so putting more than one on the same stand would be... counter-productive. If there were rules for Support Vehicles that would allow them to act like Mechanized Infantry do, then 2-3 to a stand would make sense, but until then... Putting 2-3 Vehicles on a Stand would just be representing some form of Mechanized Infantry at present. They tend to not be very survivable in many cases.
H.B.M.C. wrote: Chaos generally buys multiples of everything that comes out. Dude's house is clearly made of solid gold.
Actually its made of cardboard and plastic.
And I don't buy multiples of *everything* - I only bought one copy of the new warcry box for example. In general though I do buy multiples of bundle products (battleforces, Combat Patrols, etc.) as my dollars go a bit farther if I buy bundle products at a discount (as in I'm usually buying this stuff at somewhere between 25 and 60% off US MSRP, depending on my sources and what the current exchange rate is. I get 25% at local stores but can manage much better than that ordering from overseas through some contacts in the UK.
When it came to battletech though, I have a large local community so I kinda knew what I was getting myself into. Only reason I had never played BT prior was because I absolutely despised the style and design of the minis and refused to take BT seriously as a result. Once I saw Catalysts redesign I was on board and had to make up for lost time! Also, to be fair, while I never played a game of BT proper, I did pick up AGOAC prior to pledging on the kickstarter and read through the rules and do some demo games against myself to see how it played, I enjoyed it, that was enough for me.
Can't say I've ever seen a condor, in person, let alone on the tabletop. Hopefully this encourages people to make use of Quikscell's magnificent products!
Some assembly required, magnificent is a term open to interpretation, NO REFUNDS!
Ghaz wrote: Yeah, they were supposedly going for a Metal Slug vibe...
Why???
That's not BTech's aesthetic at all.
Regardless of what art direction they went, with, it'd be an improvement. Battletech vehicles put the ass in aesthetic. There are very few exceptions to this.
Yep - I think thats a big part of why Battletechs popularity seems to currently being exploding. The mech redesigns have made the game and setting much more approachable to "mainstream" wargaming audiences. The vehicle redesigns look like they will help drive this home. I'm really looking forward to seeing where the game goes from here.
Ghaz wrote: Yeah, they were supposedly going for a Metal Slug vibe...
Why???
That's not BTech's aesthetic at all.
Regardless of what art direction they went, with, it'd be an improvement. Battletech vehicles put the ass in aesthetic. There are very few exceptions to this.
It does appear the most notable vehicles in computer games and in focus are the ones that looked decent. I do feel that aesthetics play a big part in vehicle popularity as only the Manticore is both a well rounded design and a popular icon. I have in all my years never seen a Vedette or Ontos on the tabletop, and other decent vehicles like the Von Luckner never get a look in..
You know, they never showed well, but I was always a fan of the triple gun turret designs. Alacorns, Pikes, they were so silly but exactly what you'd want if you had to send a tank up against giant walking robots.
The weirdest thing is how the vehicles designers seemed uniformly against the idea of their models fitting on hexes. The Indra will not under any circumstances, and the Ku has to be set at a 45 degree angle. The zhukov (though looking awesome, makes you pick it up and turn it over to see if there's a base on there.
The only 2 vehilce not on hex bases for me are my clan TYR IFVs that are hovers. i like mine on bases for easy of movement without scuffing up the model and i also tend to paint the bases for looks. my typhoon wheeled assault vehicle is painted as if on a road. as is my tokugawa.
Mighty empire hex bases, i use them for quads and larger minis, although that thing may be a bit to big even for that. (i have one as well and it is not on a base).
H.B.M.C. wrote: I've never put any vehicles on hexes. Didn't see the need.
It can actually be contraindicated the way unit stacking works. Besides monetary reasons, I've been hesitant to get the Elemental Points because you won't be putting their bases in the same hex as a 'Mech.
I have several Printed tanks that came on bases. I'm still wrestling with the idea of removing those bases to make it easier to deploy them.
1. Uniformity. To harmonise your collection (and be a good Capellan)..
2. Tradition. Because its Battletech and units are normally hex based.
3. Accuracy. To better ensure you make accurate 60 degree turns, torso twists and LOS designation when you are not playing on map tiles.
I don't like overhanging miniatures like the largest tanks and spread quads like the Scorpion; but hex bases have something going for them in almost all circumstances.
If I find the Scorpion jarring I will custom base it, or maybe not even use it.
4. Perspective. Basing some models but not others gives a false perspective of their relative sizes and scales. Basing everything consistently ensures accurate perception of things.
Mechanically, in Battletech this doesn't matter very much, but theres strong argument to be made in games that rely on line of sight mechanics to base vehicles the same way infantry are based - especially in smaller scales like 15mm and below, where the base effectively doubles the height of human infantry - in this case unbased vehicles have a bit of an advantage as they aren't as tall as they should be relative to the infantry.
aphyon wrote: I fixed that problem of stacking, i play 3d terrain rules. the stackable hex that represents the mechs area of control becomes a 2" bubble.
It doesn't work with hex-based maps. And when one's group is using Heroscape tiles to provide a 3D hex-based environment, it doesn't work so well...
It was supposed to be just another exercise—a Star of light ’Mechs against one assault ’Mech. Jackson is a ristar cadet in Clan Smoke Jaguar, renowned—and envied—for never losing a battle. The five cadets beneath him in the rankings plan to hand him his first defeat. But the training goes terribly wrong, and before the day is over, there are winners and losers—and one cadet will not survive the day.
That training exercise sets in motion a chain of actions that encompasses both events that occurred decades earlier, and those yet to come. Now a full MechWarrior, Star Captain Jackson searches for answers—both about his past, and what had happened that fateful day. But what he learns are secrets that threaten to upend his entire life—and make him reconsider what it means to be a Smoke Jaguar…
SOMETHING LURKS IN THE SHADOWS…
During the chaos of the Word of Blake’s Jihad, the MechWarriors of the Federated Suns will go to any lengths to defend their nation from the Blakists’ unholy terror—including making deals with the devil. But that devil might just be a literal one: an all-black Marauder, hidden for several decades, that carries an aura of dread that infects everyone who encounters it. Many blame it for causing unexplained disappearances, technical failures, and even madness. But what is the so-called Dark One? Is it merely a ghost story told to scare pirates on the edge of the Periphery, or does something truly evil live beneath its cold, blackened armor?
This anthology collects the first three of Lance Scarinci’s stories about the Dark One, along with a brand-new fourth story exclusive to this volume.
RESTOCKS
We’re pleased to announce a major ForcePacks restock—the third printing of these products, for any MechWarriors keeping count! They’re available on the Catalyst Game Labs web store and through retail distribution. With the arrival of this ForcePacks reprint into the warehouse, Catalyst has printed and placed in the market over 600,000 ForcePacks in the last 36 months!
Inner Sphere Command Lance
Inner Sphere Battle Lance
Inner Sphere Heavy Battle Lance
Inner Sphere Urban Lance
Inner Sphere Support Lance
Legendary MechWarriors Pack
Clan Fire Star
Clan Heavy Battle Star
Clan Support Star
Clan Heavy Star
Clan Fire Star
Clan Command Star
Inner Sphere Direct Fire Lance
Inner Sphere Heavy Lance
Inner Sphere Striker Lance
Inner Sphere Fire Lance
Clan Heavy Striker Star
Clan Striker Star
Clan Ad Hoc Star
Elemental Star
ComStar Command Level II
ComStar Battle Level II
STREET DATES
We know you’ve been waiting, so here are the street dates for two much-anticipated new products:
Beginner Box – new edition (Vindicator cover): in the Catalyst web store on Friday, September 16; available in retail stores on Wednesday, September 21.
Technical Readout: Dark Age: in the Catalyst web store on Friday, October 14; available in retail stores on Wednesday, October 19.
The updated Beginner Box featuring the Vindicator and Griffin is now available online from Barnes & Noble. It doesn't look like it's in stores just yet but they may be holding off until the September 21st street date set by Catalyst (or they just haven't reached the stores yet).
My lance -
.t-bolt 7 SE
.t-bolt 10 SE
.tempest 3M
.crusader 8S
His lance-
.nightstar 9FC
.jaggermech F
.catapult C2
.bushwhacker L1
3067 era lance on lance battle i was playing the Steiner force and i was up against a Davion force. so appropriately he took a nightstar with autocannon.
The said nightstar decided to march right up front. so i hammered him....as one would have it got a crit on his LBX ammo. of course, one tends to do that when all 4 of your medium pulse lasers all hit the same torso.
My tempest and command T-bolt were just inside the max ammo explosion distance.....120+ points of damage later and 2 nearly pristine 65 tonners were out of the game.
A very good trade for him.
I ended up fighting to the last. with the crusader but that first explosion basically sealed my fate.
ehh, not sure how I feel about Catalyst suddenly doing all their major product launches via kickstarter.... I support them doing it with battletech if it means accelerating the release schedule (because I'm a greedy miniatures whore), and I understand that there were risks associated with Leviathans, but if they're running a kickstarter per month I feel like it potentially heralds some bad news and I have my doubts that any of them will deliver...
Nomeny wrote: Plus there's the part where they cannibalize their retail market; they're probably better off just running campaigns straight through Backerkit.
We’re pleased to announce a major ForcePacks restock—the third printing of these products, for any MechWarriors keeping count! They’re available on the Catalyst Game Labs web store and through retail distribution. With the arrival of this ForcePacks reprint into the warehouse, Catalyst has printed and placed in the market over 600,000 ForcePacks in the last 36 months!
That does not sound like they've 'cannibalized their retail market' when it comes to the Force Packs.
For something like Leviathan, yes, you'll cannibalize your audience. For something like Battletech? It's all but impossible. Master unit list has over 80 factions. Each faction has many subgroups, which all paint their mechs differently. Each sourcebook they're putting out now contains new factions, and revitalizes interest in old ones. Battletech players are one of the very few groups that start their hobby lives with enough mechs (You could use AGOAC for months of campaigning)- but can Always use more.
Gitzbitah wrote: For something like Leviathan, yes, you'll cannibalize your audience. For something like Battletech? It's all but impossible. Master unit list has over 80 factions. Each faction has many subgroups, which all paint their mechs differently. Each sourcebook they're putting out now contains new factions, and revitalizes interest in old ones. Battletech players are one of the very few groups that start their hobby lives with enough mechs (You could use AGOAC for months of campaigning)- but can Always use more.
And 'Mech-wise, the only limitation to using a 'Mech is the time-frame the scenario is placed in. Factions are rather meaningless on that front. Other units are more faction-dependent, but unless one is deliberately setting up such a narrative-focused scenario, there is no reason to stick to even that.
Gitzbitah wrote: For something like Leviathan, yes, you'll cannibalize your audience. For something like Battletech? It's all but impossible. Master unit list has over 80 factions. Each faction has many subgroups, which all paint their mechs differently. Each sourcebook they're putting out now contains new factions, and revitalizes interest in old ones. Battletech players are one of the very few groups that start their hobby lives with enough mechs (You could use AGOAC for months of campaigning)- but can Always use more.
That is the blessing and the curse. you only need 4 of 5 minis to play a full game with a full army. super cheap buy in from the start, but there are so many factions and faction specific units, and you only need to add that one there or those two over there....and then you end up with a giant case with hundreds of minis.
Nomeny wrote: Plus there's the part where they cannibalize their retail market; they're probably better off just running campaigns straight through Backerkit.
We’re pleased to announce a major ForcePacks restock—the third printing of these products, for any MechWarriors keeping count! They’re available on the Catalyst Game Labs web store and through retail distribution. With the arrival of this ForcePacks reprint into the warehouse, Catalyst has printed and placed in the market over 600,000 ForcePacks in the last 36 months!
That does not sound like they've 'cannibalized their retail market' when it comes to the Force Packs.
I can see where you are getting this. Many miniatures companies thrive on their crowdfunding campaigns. Archon Studios are almost exclusively crowdfunded, Mantic is about halfway, however Battletech is a long established franchise and not beholden to buy and forget sales patterns.
Yes there will be a massive sales spike compared to usual sales, and long periods of out of stock. but there is follow up. Battletech is not going to go away.
Gitzbitah wrote: For something like Leviathan, yes, you'll cannibalize your audience. For something like Battletech? It's all but impossible. Master unit list has over 80 factions. Each faction has many subgroups, which all paint their mechs differently. Each sourcebook they're putting out now contains new factions, and revitalizes interest in old ones. Battletech players are one of the very few groups that start their hobby lives with enough mechs (You could use AGOAC for months of campaigning)- but can Always use more.
That is the blessing and the curse. you only need 4 of 5 minis to play a full game with a full army. super cheap buy in from the start, but there are so many factions and faction specific units, and you only need to add that one there or those two over there....and then you end up with a giant case with hundreds of minis.
I don't have a mech problem. I can quit any time. Really.
Gitzbitah wrote: For something like Leviathan, yes, you'll cannibalize your audience. For something like Battletech? It's all but impossible. Master unit list has over 80 factions. Each faction has many subgroups, which all paint their mechs differently. Each sourcebook they're putting out now contains new factions, and revitalizes interest in old ones. Battletech players are one of the very few groups that start their hobby lives with enough mechs (You could use AGOAC for months of campaigning)- but can Always use more.
That is the blessing and the curse. you only need 4 of 5 minis to play a full game with a full army. super cheap buy in from the start, but there are so many factions and faction specific units, and you only need to add that one there or those two over there....and then you end up with a giant case with hundreds of minis.
When you say 4 -5 minis do you mean for classic BT or alpha strike? I was kinda under the impression classic BT was the more played version but on youtube most battle reports seem to be of alpha strike.
I have a bunch of mechs but haven't got to play this game this year as much as I would've liked. I also got a bit of painting paralysis on picking a clan to paint and then realized i'm probably going to split them all up between ghost bear/ jade falcon/ clan wolf anyway. I'm just not the type to paint all my mechs in the same coherent scheme.
Gitzbitah wrote: For something like Leviathan, yes, you'll cannibalize your audience. For something like Battletech? It's all but impossible. Master unit list has over 80 factions. Each faction has many subgroups, which all paint their mechs differently. Each sourcebook they're putting out now contains new factions, and revitalizes interest in old ones. Battletech players are one of the very few groups that start their hobby lives with enough mechs (You could use AGOAC for months of campaigning)- but can Always use more.
That is the blessing and the curse. you only need 4 of 5 minis to play a full game with a full army. super cheap buy in from the start, but there are so many factions and faction specific units, and you only need to add that one there or those two over there....and then you end up with a giant case with hundreds of minis.
When you say 4 -5 minis do you mean for classic BT or alpha strike? I was kinda under the impression classic BT was the more played version but on youtube most battle reports seem to be of alpha strike.
I have a bunch of mechs but haven't got to play this game this year as much as I would've liked. I also got a bit of painting paralysis on picking a clan to paint and then realized i'm probably going to split them all up between ghost bear/ jade falcon/ clan wolf anyway. I'm just not the type to paint all my mechs in the same coherent scheme.
Most players I know play both, but Alpha Strike is played more frequently. It definitely is the one you'll see the most videos of- for any reasonable time frame, Battletech caps out at 4 mechs to a side, while Alpha Strike could easily handle 12 on 12 with vehicle, artillery, and aerospace support in that timeframe. It's a far more visually impressive game.
Classic is crunchy and deep, very immersive- but slow. It is all but unchanged since the 80s, a relic.
But if you bust out a mapsheet and a couple of record sheets, it's a good bet you'll find a game, with someone who can't believe it's been so long since I played this.
Alpha Strike is a vibrant modern game. It's an easy entry point for new players, and a chance for old players to finally fight the huge battles described in the novels and sourcebooks without taking a week off of work.
Gitzbitah wrote: For something like Leviathan, yes, you'll cannibalize your audience. For something like Battletech? It's all but impossible. Master unit list has over 80 factions. Each faction has many subgroups, which all paint their mechs differently. Each sourcebook they're putting out now contains new factions, and revitalizes interest in old ones. Battletech players are one of the very few groups that start their hobby lives with enough mechs (You could use AGOAC for months of campaigning)- but can Always use more.
That is the blessing and the curse. you only need 4 of 5 minis to play a full game with a full army. super cheap buy in from the start, but there are so many factions and faction specific units, and you only need to add that one there or those two over there....and then you end up with a giant case with hundreds of minis.
When you say 4 -5 minis do you mean for classic BT or alpha strike? I was kinda under the impression classic BT was the more played version but on youtube most battle reports seem to be of alpha strike.
I have a bunch of mechs but haven't got to play this game this year as much as I would've liked. I also got a bit of painting paralysis on picking a clan to paint and then realized i'm probably going to split them all up between ghost bear/ jade falcon/ clan wolf anyway. I'm just not the type to paint all my mechs in the same coherent scheme.
I do not consider alpha strike battletech, i mean it is technically but to me i have been playing since 1987 there is only one way i will play it. so normally a lance V lance is a 4 on 4 or a clan V clan is a 5 on 5. clans V inner sphere is 5 on 8.
Flinty wrote:
H.B.M.C. wrote: Friend of mine's parents went to the states not all that long ago, and he had them drop by a B&N to pick up the Wolf's Dragoons box.
Turns out he told 'em to get two, and he gave one to me, so that was nice.
[EDIT]: And that means I now have 8 Mad Cats. That's the single 'Mech I have the most of, overtaking Zeus and Catapults.
Surely you can ever have enough madcats!
I have one.......and the model i use is actually the stealth marauder....i never liked the madcat and actively avoided it. now the cauldron born on the other hand.
yeah, that giant box on the front end is kind of hard to miss. i would love to see some other tanks make the cut like the challenger X, alacorn, ajax, and the HEAT variant of the ontos
Is that premium timber wolf TC variant any good in classic BT? I got mine in the mail today just cause I liked how it looks, the casting quality of the mini is....not great, some muddled details, almost some mold slippage on one of the 4 included legs. It needs some cleanup work, I think I was happier with the premium stormcrow from a while back.
That's a very dangerous close-range brawler. Extremely accurate, very manoeuvrable, can punch big holes with its lasers and then follow-up with crit-seeking missiles that never miss.
Nomeny wrote: Plus there's the part where they cannibalize their retail market; they're probably better off just running campaigns straight through Backerkit.
We’re pleased to announce a major ForcePacks restock—the third printing of these products, for any MechWarriors keeping count! They’re available on the Catalyst Game Labs web store and through retail distribution. With the arrival of this ForcePacks reprint into the warehouse, Catalyst has printed and placed in the market over 600,000 ForcePacks in the last 36 months!
That does not sound like they've 'cannibalized their retail market' when it comes to the Force Packs.
Rather nice to know I'm wrong about this! Thank you.
Two big new products are available today, MechWarriors – don’t miss out!
Beginner Box (Vindicator Edition)
$19.99 $24.99
DEPLOYMENT IN THREE…TWO…ONE…
BattleTech is the world’s greatest armored combat game, filled with epic stories and gaming experiences to satiate any player: miniatures to RPG play, hobby painting to fiction, and beyond. The BattleTech Beginner Box is the first step on that fantastic journey and includes everything you need to get started: two high-quality miniatures, quick-start rules, a mapsheet, cards to represent your MechWarrior’s unique skills, dice, and more.
Do you have what it takes to plant the banner of victory and become a legend? Leap into the action and find out!
CONTENTS
2 high-quality, fully assembled (unpainted) miniatures
12-page Rulebook
8 wet-erase Record Sheets
24 page fiction novella
4-page Universe Primer
4 Pilot Cards
One 18″ x 22″ full-color paper maps (double-sided)
Punchboard of additional BattleMechs and terrain
2 dice
Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine hits harder than ever before, launching a double-size issue filled with more BattleMechs and star-spanning conflicts from the 31st century and beyond! Venture into the Reunification War as the Taurian Concordat fights for freedom against the relentless Star League. Wander through libraries filled with forbidden knowledge lost through centuries of constant warfare. Witness the aftermath of House Arano’s bitter civil war, and face down the infamous, unbeatable, all-black Marauder—if you dare…
In this issue, you’ll hunt for a missing DropShip in the distant Periphery, and fight for survival during the most pivotal battle in the Clan Invasion. You’ll brave the chaotic nuclear fires of the Word of Blake’s Jihad and claw your way through Draconis Combine troops threatening your family, determined to survive at any cost.
Fill your double-capacity magazine with a complete novella, technical readouts, a planet and unit digest, playable scenarios, a Clan Invasion campaign, a treatise on troublesome native wildlife, some tips for downtrodden Taurian citizens, and more—all by BattleTech veterans and the next squad of new recruits:
Tom Leveen
Jason Hansa
Lance Scarinci
Jennifer Bixby
Giles Gammage
Geoff Swift
Julian Michael Carver
Matthew Cross
Donavan Dufault
Daniel Isberner
James Lee
Harvey Roberts
Steve P. Vincent
Alayna M. Weathers
James Bixby
Étienne Charron-Willard
Alex Fauth
Joshua Franklin
Ken’ Horner
Wunji Lau
Eric Salzman
Jason Schmetzer
Tom Stanley
Joel Steverson
Stephen Toropov
Note: This purchase contains two files; an epub version for use with most e-readers, and a .mobi version for use on the Amazon Kindle.
An understatement? I was about to suggest the opposite. It seems like an artifically low starting funding goal with padded low effort stretch goals until much later where likely the real expected goal is. YMMV. As a multi-edition Shadowrun rpg fan and someone who had the original 90s card game, I wish it well.
warboss wrote: An understatement? I was about to suggest the opposite. It seems like an artifically low starting funding goal with padded low effort stretch goals until much later where likely the real expected goal is. YMMV. As a multi-edition Shadowrun rpg fan and someone who had the original 90s card game, I wish it well.
Honestly, I just glanced at it and didn't even notice the stretch goals - I just saw it had 3 items in it and had doubled its starting goal. (The only Shadowrun I've played was the video game)
I found my group by visiting a game store that had recently opened. I was originally looking to get in to WarCry, but I either noticed they had Battletech posted on their daily game calendar or mentioned that it was my preferred game, then they mentioned how they met every Friday night.
A year and half later, my collection has grown and is (mostly) painted. I've even acquired some Vehicles and ordered my first official ProtoMech and Battle Armor models.
For our store game night for miniatures is Saturdays, if you come in on any other night you probably won't see as much of a turnout, but we do have it posted on the big store whiteboards schedule.
Since we are a pretty social group, we play loads of different games so we can pretty well accommodate what most players are looking for. usually when somebody new comes in and asks about a game system they are looking for players for the answer is almost always YES.
a couple weeks back a guy walked in and asked if anybody played warmachine since the scene at the store he was going to died....... there are about 11 active players at our store, so the answer was-YES!
It is also why many of us carry spare forces for people to use. i always have my 5 DUST armies with me as well as a container with 150+ odd units for battletech and the like.
ordered my first official ProtoMech
I feel the hate flow at you already. that near miss on 3's and 11's, not being able to fall down, carrying the firepower of a heavy mech that never overheats, and the EI giving them a 2+ gunnery....all for the downside of every internal hit causing a pilot hit. I do love my protos. as a hells horse player i also get the double bonus of them counting as infantry so i do not take an initiative penalty when we are playing lore rules.
I love my demon ticks, and blood drinkers, the ROC is a solid middle ground albeit a bit under gunned. The Svartalfa is just silly...but i love it so.
I feel the hate flow at you already. that near miss on 3's and 11's, not being able to fall down, carrying the firepower of a heavy mech that never overheats, and the EI giving them a 2+ gunnery....all for the downside of every internal hit causing a pilot hit. I do love my protos. as a hells horse player i also get the double bonus of them counting as infantry so i do not take an initiative penalty when we are playing lore rules.
I love my demon ticks, and blood drinkers, the ROC is a solid middle ground albeit a bit under gunned. The Svartalfa is just silly...but i love it so.
I haven't used the EI rules with them... yet, but I have used my old FASA-style plastics as proxies for them a few times.
The reaction to them so far has been... interesting. Most of the time it starts with a freak-out because I'm taking 4 more models in that slot than I would with a Mech. The psychological affect in this area is quite interesting, especially when I could probably do something similar with a Combat Vehicle and they wouldn't bat an eye.
Then they get annoyed when the fast ones run by them (to either get scenario points or to light them up with a TAG) and the heavier ones are supporting another 'Mech or hanging back seeming to do nothing (either fire support Gorgons or Roc 3s just waiting to apply cMPL to speedsters heading to my deployment zone).
Then they hit them. Aside from one time that someone managed to hit one consistently in the 3 and 11, they individually tend not to survive the focused attention of a 'Mech. I think this last game was the first time I had ProtoMechs who got hit by a 'Mech and survive. One was without legs watching the rest of his point chase down an Awesome that had turned its back on them (he was going after a Fireball XF for some reason) and a Sarath.
The order was a Satyr for recon and speed, 2 Rocs for that good solid support, and 2 Basilisks because they are a little cheaper and they seem to be a bit rare. My next order will probably duplicate it, and then look in to getting Gorgons.
Since i play hells horse i usually run at least one point of the star as protomechs. i like to pair them with my enyo strike tanks that are comparatively fast. i mix and match for a combined arms star.
usually 2-3 mechs and a mix of tanks, protomechs, aerospace or VTOLs. I even have a couple TYRs to go with my gnome battle armor.
I generally don't bother with unit designs because I'm not confident in my paint selection or painting skills. That and we generally don't DO units in our weekly games. :shrug:
So, my Inner Sphere scheme is:
By the way, did you know that Warmachine Heavy Warjack hands fit quite well with CGL plastic Assault Mechs?
My Clan scheme is:
Though, our narrative campaign has finally decided on a unit scheme so, I did a Spider I "convinced" the pilot to join our unit with in their colors (sort of).
I've mostly done the rest of the Lance Pack in the same color scheme (I've not started on the final yellow layer yet), as well as a 3D printed Stalker in the same scheme.
Context is king, and that context was in regard to the metal tanks/vees. None of the current metal tanks/vees are in scale. The new vees are in scale with each other and the new 'Mechs.
I take full credit for the existence of this page. I bitched about there not being a quick way to identify which minis were being released in "catalyst scale" on the forums. After some back and forth where IWM pushed back on the idea that this was needed, they relented and now the page exists.
Are the Shrapnel magazines worth purchasing? Are they mostly fiction? Is there a decent amount of gaming related content in them?
I'm considering picking some up (they are pretty affordable), I'm just curious what I should expect from them, in general. I can see a summary of what's included... but not really an indication of how much of what is in there (is it 90% fiction and 10% game-related stuff, etc).
Asmoridin wrote: Are the Shrapnel magazines worth purchasing? Are they mostly fiction? Is there a decent amount of gaming related content in them?
I'm considering picking some up (they are pretty affordable), I'm just curious what I should expect from them, in general. I can see a summary of what's included... but not really an indication of how much of what is in there (is it 90% fiction and 10% game-related stuff, etc).
If you go to masterunit list, sources, and search shrapnel, then you can see what is in each one. So far my experience has been that Shrapnel introduces one, maybe 2 variants of existing mechs per issue, some quite odd- there's a Thunder Stallion variant used by the Lyrans and Jade Falcons, for example.
Asmoridin wrote: Are the Shrapnel magazines worth purchasing? Are they mostly fiction? Is there a decent amount of gaming related content in them?
I'm considering picking some up (they are pretty affordable), I'm just curious what I should expect from them, in general. I can see a summary of what's included... but not really an indication of how much of what is in there (is it 90% fiction and 10% game-related stuff, etc).
If you go to masterunit list, sources, and search shrapnel, then you can see what is in each one. So far my experience has been that Shrapnel introduces one, maybe 2 variants of existing mechs per issue, some quite odd- there's a Thunder Stallion variant used by the Lyrans and Jade Falcons, for example.
That's just for the 'Mechs, Combat Vees, Aerospace Fighters etc.which show up in the magazine. For the full contents you can check out Sarna:
I take full credit for the existence of this page. I bitched about there not being a quick way to identify which minis were being released in "catalyst scale" on the forums. After some back and forth where IWM pushed back on the idea that this was needed, they relented and now the page exists.
Cubby wrote:AS Box is on a ship, due in the warehouse early November. Hoping the turnaround into distribution will be quick. Understand that as much as y'all want it, distributors want it at least as much if not more. There's a lot of heat around this product, so we're not at all going to sit on it.
Bad news for those who were looking forward to getting a Glass Spider in the Kickstarter. From the BattleTech Forums:
Anthony Scroggins gave away that it won't be in the Kickstarter. But as you say, they created a prototype and that probably means it's coming out in plastic. I guess it'll feature as part of an IlClan-era mercenary pack?
It looks like we'll be getting this 'Mech instead...
Anthony Scroggins gave away that it won't be in the Kickstarter. But as you say, they created a prototype and that probably means it's coming out in plastic. I guess it'll feature as part of an IlClan-era mercenary pack?
It looks like we'll be getting this 'Mech instead...
So we are getting the Grizzly.
I saw a few people on the official site asking about that as a potential inclusion. Good to see it show up.
I picked up one of their king of the hill maps a while back, hadn't see the island map yet. I'm trying to figure out what kind of scenario I could use that for...
It's like infantry. One dude with a rifle is helpless before a 'mech unless he has plot armor. A battalion can wreck a mech in one go.
Likewise, one UrbanMech is pretty useless. Twelve can dominate the whole area in range of their AC/10s, especially in dense terrain. You need significant long-range firepower to root out a company of UrbanMechs.
And let's face it. There are a lot of bad 'Mechs in BattleTech. As one of (if not THE) worst of the lot, it becomes a challenge to make good use of them in the actual game.
That's a good way to look at it... at least from a PC's point of view. The OPFOR has to cover large numbers of targets simultaneously, while you are only attacking one. Having a cheap company of relatively static defenders allows you to economize, and reinforce the point of actual attack with mobile reserves. So if the PCs attack in, say, two lances or a company, a company of Urbies backed up by a lance of fast heavies is a reasonable OPFOR. They probably outclass all the defenders individually, but are outnumbered. This makes the victory all the more meaningful.
And if the OPFOR wins, well, winning with UrbanMechs is pretty special too.
Pointman wrote: each one carrying a nuclear reactor and mechwarrior inside don't sound cheap.
AC/10's in carriages would probably last longer too if hidden in ambush.
It is a matter of comparison. micro fusion reactors are cheap in the battletech universe as an "old" common technology. and a single mechwarrior is far cheaper than training an entire tank crew.
In the right setting the urbie does just fine. i once ran a scenario game where i had 3 of them along with some light tanks as part of a corporate defense force defending a factory.
The players had infantry, APCs and a couple medium mechs. in that game the urbies did the job just fine.
An update on some BattleTech books (not novels) from the BattleTech Forums:
Cubby wrote:Universe is still coming, it's been much more of a bear to get across the finish line than we could have imagined, coupled with getting pushed back in favor of some other opportunities that have come up. Still planned--we really want this book out as the definitive setting guide, it's a big part of our strategy to bring folks into the ilClan era.
Brush Wars is very much alive, near-daily progress on that. We'd hoped to drop the series of products for the first installment of season 1 this month, but that looks like it'll be pushed possibly to next month. The product developer, Mendrugo on these forums, has written an intro I'd like to publish in the next week or two.
TalonZahn wrote: I got a copy of the new Alpha Strike, very nice set.
The one thing of note, to me at least, is that the minis are a darker more solid plastic and have FAR less flash/slip lines.
These minis are a big jump up in quality.
That has my interest. I just received my Urbanmech company box and picked one out at random, I didn't notice a difference in the plastic itself but it was a very clean cast with minimal mold marks. Looking forward to the AS box!
Honestly the ADHOC star is one of the best sets. warhammer IIc, marauder IIc, hunchback IIc, super nova and stone rhino.
The rest of the boxes are a mix of good and not so good mechs or they mix iconic mechs from various factions together. i understand it is great marketing. but who really wants to have to buy 3 different sets to get all the iconic jade falcon mechs?
I'm not as much a fan of the Salvage boxes as many people are. I like to know what I'm getting, and I hate getting duplicates of 'Mechs I think are lack luster. Someone gave me a Salvage box last night (nice of them), but it was a Crusader. Not a 'Mech I like to use, generally. I ended up giving it someone who was looking in to starting the game.
The Salvage boxes are an impulse buy and a gotcha. They're cheap enough to buy one at a whim at a FLGS and some people love the excitement of the randomness.
I'm with you though. I prefer to buy the boxes where I know what I am getting,
No points for this fellow as it's just a fine tuning of the original artwork. Can't wait to add him to my 2nd St. Ives Lancers. Now I just need the Emperor, Yu Huang, Helios, Ti T'sang, Thunder, Men Shen and Sha Yu and I'll be ready to go...
Ghaz wrote: No points for this fellow as it's just a fine tuning of the original artwork. Can't wait to add him to my 2nd St. Ives Lancers. Now I just need the Emperor, Yu Huang, Helios, Ti T'sang, Thunder, Men Shen and Sha Yu and I'll be ready to go...
I'll give them points for not screwing up a fantastic well loved design
Pointman wrote: each one carrying a nuclear reactor and mechwarrior inside don't sound cheap.
AC/10's in carriages would probably last longer too if hidden in ambush.
To a point. A platoon of infantry can man 2 AC-10s, but after they take 28 points of damage the platoon is gone. Odds are an UrbanMech will still be shooting after 28 points of damage. Where the platoon of infantry is superior is concealability...but you're wasting a lot of the longer range of the AC-10 if you wait to shoot until point-blank range. Better to go with a pair of AC-20s under those circumstances.
It would take a major reworking on Shimmering Sword's part to make me like the Jinggau, and since I'm more of a painter than a player at this point in time then that's what matters.
Pointman wrote: each one carrying a nuclear reactor and mechwarrior inside don't sound cheap.
AC/10's in carriages would probably last longer too if hidden in ambush.
To a point. A platoon of infantry can man 2 AC-10s, but after they take 28 points of damage the platoon is gone. Odds are an UrbanMech will still be shooting after 28 points of damage. Where the platoon of infantry is superior is concealability...but you're wasting a lot of the longer range of the AC-10 if you wait to shoot until point-blank range. Better to go with a pair of AC-20s under those circumstances.
ConvInf can take a while to get that 28 points of Damage in, though. In Cover or a Building, a Large Laser is only going to take one of them out, while doing its full 8 Damage to an UrbanMech, 2 if they are in the open. They also don't have an ammo bay to hit with a Crit, either. However, get them with a Flamer outside of a Building and you can pretty much write the field guns off.
They are limited to 1 ton of ammo per Field Gun, though, so 5 shots is all they would get from any AC/20, 2 if they go with certain alternate ammo types. Good for an ambush, but they have to be very well placed, and preferably in a Building.
Gitzbitah wrote: Beware the ides of March! Lol, and the poor Caesar is in this one too.
It's actually a good change for those in the US who get a tax refund. Also mentioned by Adrian Gideon on the BattleTech Forums that the Aerospace Fighter will not be "... any Inner Sphere design"...
Also mentioned in a later post is that the Combat Vees and 'Mechs will not match up volumetrically as they're denser (e.g., a 50-ton Combat Vee will be smaller volumetrically than a 50-ton 'Mech).
Adrian Gideon wrote:No, the volumes will not match the 'Mechs,... The vehicles will be 1/265 scale as opposed to the Ral Partha 1/300 scale, and they will be consistent with each other. They will not be volumetrically match to 'Mechs as 'Mechs have always, always been less dense than vehicles.
Catalyst Game Labs wrote:... and a new aerospace fighter.
Let the speculation begin. As unlikely as it may be, I hope it is the Samurai from the cover of the original AeroTech box.
Ghaz wrote:Also mentioned by Adrian Gideon on the BattleTech Forums that the Aerospace Fighter will not be "... any Inner Sphere design"...
That pretty much makes it a Clanner design, probably to catch up with the Clan Invasion and Shilone in concept. Pity, I was hoping it would be a Lucifer or Corsair to face off against the Shilone.
The Batu is the design used in the Animated Series, so possibly the most iconic.
The Visigoth is about the same mass as the Shilone.
I think the Sabutai is probably the most impressive of the first generation of Clan Omnifighters shown to us, though.
With the revelation that it's not an Inner Sphere ASF, I'm going to go with the Jengiz as (according to Sarna) that it was most likely a Jengiz Prime that Tyra Miraborg (who's on the Pilot Card for the Shilone) faced off with before her kamikaze run on the Dire Wolf.
Ghaz wrote: With the revelation that it's not an Inner Sphere ASF, I'm going to go with the Jengiz as (according to Sarna) that it was most likely a Jengiz Prime that Tyra Miraborg (who's on the Pilot Card for the Shilone) faced off with before her kamikaze run on the Dire Wolf.
That might work, especially since IWM only has a micro-fighter version (and it doesn't have much detail at all).
Ghaz wrote: With the revelation that it's not an Inner Sphere ASF, I'm going to go with the Jengiz as (according to Sarna) that it was most likely a Jengiz Prime that Tyra Miraborg (who's on the Pilot Card for the Shilone) faced off with before her kamikaze run on the Dire Wolf.
That might work, especially since IWM only has a micro-fighter version (and it doesn't have much detail at all).
Ghaz wrote: With the revelation that it's not an Inner Sphere ASF, I'm going to go with the Jengiz as (according to Sarna) that it was most likely a Jengiz Prime that Tyra Miraborg (who's on the Pilot Card for the Shilone) faced off with before her kamikaze run on the Dire Wolf.
That might work, especially since IWM only has a micro-fighter version (and it doesn't have much detail at all).
Uh..... the jenghiz prime exists in mech scale on IWMs store. i am assuming you did not go into the online exclusives/archives section where something like 80% of their minis are located because they are made to order.
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Charistoph wrote: That might work, especially since IWM only has a micro-fighter version (and it doesn't have much detail at all).
Uh..... the jenghiz prime exists in mech scale on IWMs store. i am assuming you did not go into the online exclusives/archives section where something like 80% of their minis are located because they are made to order.
lots of hovercraft.
i set up the table to be friendly to my opponent because he wanted to try this out.
Unfortunately, he forgot to get the sheets for the actual vehicles he wanted to use so he had to heavy proxy his units. he ran 6 drillsons, and 2 other SRM boats.
I threw together some silly stuff-a fire falcon B, 2 points of TYR IFVS with GNOMES riding in them, a point of ROC protomechs and a point of enyo strike tanks.
I lost the deployment so my first placement-the enyos- basically were not in the game as they were on the opposite end of the table.
The protos took the brunt of his fury and he managed to kill 3 of them. the exchange wasn't going his way though he lost 3 drillsons with some minor damage on another.
I had some incredible rolls as well. the protos hitting with all 5 ERmediums in the same location, and then the GNOMEs doing work. of 3 volleys of SRMs i landed all 10, 8, and then 6 between the 2 units.
I hardly ever get them on the table so this was a nice change.
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
He wants to do a big infantry/BA battle in the future so i think i will break out my Raiden's and give them some love.
Cubby wrote:Attention, MechWarriors! We're aware of the current issue accessing the Master Unit List. We've identified the cause of the outage and are working on restoring the site--and doing so in a way that will hopefully make it even more stable going forward. We're eager to restore this important player resource as soon as possible!
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